Service Learning

Welcome to Service Learning through St. Charles Community College. Service Learning combines academic studies with community volunteer service, enhancing student learning through hands-on service experience that meets a community need.

Service Learning Program

Students who sign up for a designated service learning course will select a service site that meets the instructor's requirements and looks of interest to the student. The student will contact the agency and discuss with the volunteer coordinator the available service options and times available to serve. They will keep track of their hours on the required hours log form (15 hours per semester is recommended, although the student may choose to do more). The log, signed by the volunteer coordinator, will be turned in to the faculty instructor. A reflection paper or presentation will be made to discuss the service learning.

The benefits to students:

The benefits for community agencies:

Short term volunteers to meet community needs

Potential long-term volunteers

Potential recruits for agency employment

Expanded trained volunteer network to promote agency services within the community

Service Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Service learning is a type of experiential education that combines academic goals with activities that address human and community needs.

What is the difference between service-learning and community service?

Community service participants volunteer for the primary or sole purpose of meeting the needs of others and bettering the community as a whole. People engaged in high quality service learning meet the needs of their communities while increasing their academic achievement. Service-learning students also take part in structured time designated to investigate community needs, invoke upon thoughtful planning of the project & complete a guided reflection regarding the relationship between their service experience and their more traditional in-class learning. Overall, the most important feature of effective service-learning programs is that students engage equally with learning and service and reflect on the connections.